Houston Comes In

The Rockets come to town tonight with a 4-8 record in their last doezen games, including 2-5 in their last seven road games.

Tracy McGrady recorded his third career triple double at hime Wednesday against the Grizzlies. In an even, all-around performance, McGrady had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

One of his other two trip-dubs came against the Nets when he had 46, 13 and 10 on Feb. 23, 2003.

PAT SULLIVAN/AP PHOTOTracy McGrady tonight at the Meadowlands.

McGrady is averaging 25.4 points per game for Houston, while Yao Ming is averaging 22.2 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field to go along with 10.3 rebounds.

Steve Francis played Wednesday against Memphis after missing a game with a bruised tailbone.

DALLAS

Speaking of Texas teams, what's wrong with the Mavericks? With last night's home loss to Allen Iverson and the Nuggets, struggling Dallas has now lost six of its last nine games. The 122 points given up to Denver was a season hig, as were the 19 ugly turnovers.

"They're not very pretty right now," president Donnie Nelson tolld reporters in Dallas. "But they're ours, and we love them."

That was interpreted to mean they won't be going after Jason Kidd or Kobe Bryant just yet. No signs of panic yet.

The Mavs are 12-8 right now. Last year - after losing their first four games - they were 35-8, so maybe they're on their way to a 23-game winning streak.